The Legend of Tokyo Taoist

Chapter 9 Lucky Mutual Aid Society

Inuyama Heita asked in surprise: "Why are you here?"

"Of course I'm here to learn and communicate." Qian Xiaoyi spread his hands and said, "Broadly speaking, this mutual aid association is in the same field as mine."

"How are you in the same business?!" Inuyama Heita complained, "You two have absolutely nothing in common, right? One is a religious group, and the other is an exorcism agency."

Qian Xiaoyi said, "We all use similar methods to make money, so why aren't we in the same business? But why did you come here? Could it be that you have finally made up your mind to become a partner of justice, and have learned how to transform like a magical girl so that you can defeat all the evil forces?"

"How is it possible..." Inuyama Heita sighed and briefly recounted the story of Suzuki.

"I see. Are you here to check on your classmate?" Qian Xiaoyi glanced at the smiling female receptionist at the entrance of the venue in the far corridor and said, "Anyway, let's go in first. This is not a good place to chat. Don't let others know that we know each other. You should know that it is taboo for colleagues to pry into business secrets."

"..." Inuyama Heita really wanted to continue complaining, but in order not to attract attention, he held back. He walked to the entrance of the venue and took out the flyer that Matsui gave him.

The receptionist at the door took it and looked at it. After confirming that it was correct, he smiled and handed him a number tag: "You are the newly invited newcomer. Welcome to the mutual aid party. There are free drinks and snacks. Please feel free to enjoy them. Please take a seat according to the number after the party starts."

Qian Xiaoyi didn't have any flyers, but he took out his phone, opened a website, and waved it in front of the receptionist: "I registered online and paid the money."

"Please take your seat according to your number. Good luck." The receptionist handed him a number card sweetly. "Welcome to this first-time mutual aid group. This place will definitely help you in your life."

"Hey~ I hope so." Qian Xiaoyi muttered, with a flash of sarcasm across her face. The pretty waitress did not notice at all that there was a small dark blue handprint on the back of her neck. Even a psychic like Inuyama Heita who had the ability to see ghosts and spirits could not see anything unusual under the cover of the hair. Only Qian Xiaoyi noticed it.

Qian Xiaoyi calmly followed Inuyama Heita into the venue. Unlike the gloomy scene of a cult gathering in imagination, the venue of the Lucky Mutual Aid Society was decorated very brightly. The long tables on the side of the venue were filled with various snacks and non-alcoholic drinks. Members who looked full of vigor gathered in twos and threes, chatting about family matters with rosy faces. If you didn't know, you would have thought this was a neighborhood association. In short, the atmosphere was very harmonious.

"It's a little different from what I expected..." Inuyama Heita said in surprise: "I thought it would be... more unusual."

"If the prey can see the trap at a glance, it is not called a trap." Qian Xiaoyi turned his head as if he saw something, and said in a deep voice: "Follow me, go over there, and act more naturally."

"Huh? What?" Inuyama Heita was confused. He didn't find anything noteworthy in that direction, but he and Qian Xiaoyi pretended not to know each other and slowly moved over.

Then he saw Qian Xiaoyi come to the long table, pick up a plate, and start piling food on it, accepting all kinds of small cakes and macarons, and even secretly stuffing some packaged food into his pocket. His movements were extremely natural.

"You...what are you doing?" Inuyama Heita also took a plate beside him, pretending to pick up snacks, and whispered: "Are we here to do this?!" "What do you mean by 'we'? I'm not here with you." Qian Xiaoyi's mouth and hands didn't stop. He ate a macaron and was choked by the sweetness. He took the macaron on the plate back and focused on the small cakes. He answered casually: "I paid to register. The entrance fee this time is several thousand yen. I can eat for several days. It's equivalent to a mid-range unlimited buffet. What's wrong with taking something away? Don't forget our financial situation, and don't forget the identity of the organizer. I have no psychological burden to take advantage of them."

"It seems... reasonable." Inuyama Heita was actually convinced by Qian Xiaoyi, and the two began to sweep the snacks on the long table, fearing that they would not be able to make up for their money. There was no other way, these two guys were used to being stingy, and they would rather break every penny in half, only buying discounted items, and rarely buying desserts. This time, of course, they wanted to make up for the lack of sugar in their daily lives.

"Hirata-kun, you finally came."

Just when Inuyama Heita was so busy eating and drinking that he almost forgot what he was doing, a greeting scared him so much that he almost spilled the food in his hands.

Matsui was still dressed in his unchanging black suit, with a mask-like smile on his face. He asked, "How is it? Do you like the snacks we prepared?"

Inuyama Heita is still not as thick-skinned as Qian Xiaoyi, a social person. Facing the other party's teasing eyes, he suddenly felt ashamed of catching a thief and catching the stolen goods. He could only stop the action at hand, but he reacted the next moment and asked sternly: "No! You are lying to me! Where is Suzuki? Where is she?"

"It looks great." Matsui maintained his smile and said, "It would be even better if there wasn't any cream on your face."

Inuyama Heita was startled and quickly wiped his face with his sleeve. He was instantly deflated and his courage gradually faded as his momentum weakened.

Qian Xiaoyi shook his head secretly: "Silly boy, you lack social experience and were played around by others with words..." He ate the cake and glanced at the man in a suit called Matsui out of the corner of his eye, thinking about something.

"You haven't answered my question yet." Thinking that there were people around him, Inuyama Heita became bolder and asked, "Answer me!"

Matsui asked with a smile: "Why are you so concerned about Miss Suzuki? Are you and her..."

"She's just a classmate." Inuyama Heita said, "Don't change the subject. Why isn't she here? Were you lying to me yesterday?"

"Don't worry." Matsui spread his hands and said, "She is here, but you will see her later." After a pause, Matsui continued, "Hirata-kun, I know you are prejudiced against our group, but look at the people around you, do you really think we are an evil religious group? Don't you feel that they are different from other people outside?"

Hearing this, Inuyama Heita looked around. He had a strange feeling since he entered the venue. The people here were unnaturally enthusiastic. Although they were dressed ordinary, they all had an air of confidence, which was a temperament that the lower class who generally followed the crowd did not possess.

"Did you find it? This is the meaning of our Lucky Mutual Aid Association." Matsui opened his hands and said, "They were originally ordinary people who were ignored in life. They had no meaning of existence. Only here can they feel their existence. I gave them salvation."

(End of this chapter)